Commodities Corner

Gas Guzzling's Pace Slows

Growth in gasoline demand finally eases up &ndash; after years of price rises.

CONTRARY TO A WIDESPREAD BELIEF THAT U.S. GASOLINE demand has raged on unscathed by price pressure, there's now evidence that demand growth for the fuel is finally tapering off: With pump prices now at $3 a gallon -- more than double what drivers paid in 2002 -- at least some Americans have begun reining in their gas-guzzling ways.

"We're saying the world is still round, and that high prices do have an impact on demand,"...